Daily Archives: January 6, 2018

Fernando Alonso is using his Daytona 24 Hours debut to evaluate how much he enjoys endurance racing before his potential Le Mans bid, according to motorosport.com.

The 36-year-old is participating in the three-day test ahead of the Daytona race on January 27/28 and could race for Toyota in this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours having tested its LMP1 car in Bahrain last November.

“Doing this race is some kind of first step in endurance championship driving, how these races are and how much I enjoy these races,” said Alonso. “Hopefully, it’s a positive answer.

“After the Daytona 24 Hours, I will have a better understanding of these championships and the Le Mans 24 Hours and the triple crown is another target.

“So if I can fit in the Le Mans 24 Hours this year that I’m not doing the Indy 500, that will be great and hopefully the following year the Indy 500 can be in the plan again.”

Alonso, who completed five laps during the first session of the three-day ‘Roar before the Rolex 24’ Daytona test today, says his approach is similar to the one he took to his Indianapolis 500 debut last May.

But he’s also determined to fight for victory alongside United Autosports team-mates Phil Hanson and Lando Norris should the opportunity arise.

“It’s more or less the same goal as Indianapolis – first of all, try to learn different driving techniques, try to learn from the specialists of endurance races, try to be a better driver when the 24 hours finishes,” said Alonso. “It’s the first time for me in an endurance race, first time in a prototype car, first time driving at night, first time driving with GT cars around so many new things that will come step by step.

“That’s quite a big challenge but I’m ready to enjoy first of all and, as happened at Indianapolis, if you feel the opportunity, if you feel competitive, you go for it.”

A magnitude 5.1 earthquake hit western Iran on Saturday, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties, the regional governor said, according to Reuters.

“Fortunately, after all the checks that have been made in the area, there are no reports yet of any damage or casualties,” Kermanshah province governor Houshang Bazvand told state television by telephone.

A 7.3-magnitude quake killed more than 600 people in the same area in November, and there have been numerous aftershocks.

On London ICE (Intercontinental Exchange Futures) cost of the Brent crude oil fell $0.45 to stand at $67.62. The price of the US Light crude oil at the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange) decreased $0.57 to trade at $61.44.

Eleven Saudi princes were reportedly arrested for protesting at a royal palace in the capital Riyadh, according to local media on Saturday, Anadolu Agency reports.

The princes gathered at the Qasr a-Hokm to demand reversing a royal decree suspending payments for their water and electricity bills and compensations for the execution in 2016 of a relative convicted in a murder case, online news website sabq.org said.

The website, citing unnamed sources, said the princes were detained by the royal guards after they refused to leave the palace.

According to the news website, the princes were sent to Al-Hair prison in preparation to be put on trial.

Saudi authorities did not issue any official statement about the incident.

In November, Saudi authorities arrested dozens of royal family members, current and former senior officials in a massive anti-corruption sweep in the oil-rich kingdom.